Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University head men's basketball coach Dereck Whittenburg has been released from his contract it was announced today by Executive Director of Athletics Frank McLaughlin. Assistant coach Jared Grasso will take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season, effective immediately.

"We have great respect for Dereck as a coach and person, and appreciate his contribution to Fordham, his integrity and his dedication to the student athletes," said McLaughlin. "We wish him and his family well."

"This was a difficult decision, but we felt that we needed a new direction for the basketball program at this time. It's a priority of the University to have a successful program in the competitive Atlantic 10 Conference," McLaughlin said.

Whittenburg is in his seventh season at Fordham. He compiled a 69-112 record with the Rams, 136-162 overall in eleven seasons as a head coach.

Grasso is entering his fourth season as an assistant coach with the Fordham program. He served as an assistant at Quinnipiac University, his Alma Mater, in 2005-2006, before arriving at Rose Hill. Grasso was also an assistant coach at the University of Hartford (2003-2005) after serving as a graduate assistant at Hofstra University in 2002-2003.

I know Grasso's father is sick---and I'm not sure of the severity---but he has a distinguished coaching resume and it'd be great to see him join the team as a special assistant for the remainder of the season if he can physically handle it.

I can hardly believe this wonderful news. But before I get too excited I remind myself that McLaughlin is still the AD and unless he goes there won't won't be much of a change. McLaughlin, though, is like many NYC - Wall Street types: they run the company into the ground, but rather than get fired they get a bonus!

Let's all agree to give Jared 100% support and to stand by the program. I wonder if this may cause a change of heart for Jio, perhaps we can get lucky.

Thank you BOT for making a very big decision, as it is always tough to dismiss a coach so early in the season. My sense is that they may have dismissed him for cause, in an effort to negotiate a way out of paying the balance of his contract.

I knock them when they fail so it only fair to recognize when they handle something swiftly and correctly.

I never like to see anyone lose their job, even when a buyout is involved but this is DW's fault

Here is my question, if this happened so fast what really went on behind the scenes, it must have been bad if we have him walking out the door. The BOT likely was involved and came to a quick decision, hey for all we know they have talked about this weeks ago and just waited for something to make them pull the trigger

Was DW trying to get fired? Because call it what you want he was fired

Do we now have the return of Jio again?

If it is I hope it is better this time because the original and the sequel stunk

I know Grasso's father is sick---and I'm not sure of the severity---but he has a distinguished coaching resume and it'd be great to see him join the team as a special assistant for the remainder of the season if he can physically handle it.

Well there is an opening for an ass't coach, if they could steal a seasoned guy like John Thurston from the women's BB team that could work out nicely

This is some of the best news I've heard in a long time.Just e-mailed Frank yesterday encouraging to take this step. As I hinted from his earlier response to me, it sounded like it was something he was considering, but I think he wanted to wait until the end of the season. The Manhattan thing and then Jio's announcement were probably the ultimate straws.Grasso may be in a bit over his head, I don't know. I'm sure he has the team's support for now and I bet to a man, they are all glad DW is gone. It would be a good time to bring in a retired assistant who is a good X's and O's guy to help Grasso out.

That said, Fontan has now asked twice for his release. This time it effectively got the coach canned. Long overdue, but I do not want Fontan and least of all his father thinking they run the show. Unless Grasso can lay down the law with the Fontans and both are happy to accept it, good times or bad, I have no problem with Fordham and Fontan continuing on their separate ways.

Jorge Fontan, Jio’s father, said he had no immediate comment on the coaching change and needed to speak with his son.

The departure of the coach doesn't make me feel any better about Jio and particularly about his father who seems like a classic "stage" parent. (Anytime a parent starts to refer to the kid as "we" watch out! as in: "we will make 2 or 3 visits")

If Jio sticks to his decision, best of luck to him. If he asks back, Grasso (if he's smart) will do it with some pretty specific conditions. He's a young coach; he shouldn't be branded as someone who gets "owned" by one of his players, or even worse, (and I'm not in any way suggesting this is what happened, but perceptions are unforgiving) that he maneuvered or took advantage of an unfortunate situation. He has to play it smart here.